"According to a new study released by the Mercatus Center of George Mason University, some of the most liberal U.S. states rank lowest when it comes to personal freedom.
* The freest states in the country are New Hampshire, Colorado, and South Dakota, which together achieve a virtual tie for first place. All three states feature low taxes and government spending -- and middling levels of regulation and paternalism.
* New York is the least overall free by a considerable margin, followed by New Jersey, Rhode Island, California, and Maryland.
* When weighing personal freedom alone, Alaska is the clear winner, while Maryland brings up the rear.
Think about it...it's HARD to be Liberal. You have to make up laws to protect everyone from themselves. Seat belt laws, anti-dodge ball laws, anti-smoking laws, anti-fat laws, helmet laws, ridiculous "environmental" laws (like limiting black cars sold???) and so on and so forth. And each one of these laws takes away more and more personal freedom. Soon, they'll be requiring us to wear protective bubble wrap, in case we skin a knee.
